Giants vs. Cowboys NFL Week 1: TV Schedule, Betting Lines, Prediction

By Connor Muldowney

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

TV Schedule: Sunday, Sept. 8, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Stadium: AT&T Stadium

Weather: Low 75, High 97

Line: Dallas (-3)

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off yet another disappointing season and people are starting to point the finger at owner Jerry Jones — if they haven’t already. An 8-8 finish is far from what management, coaches and players expected and if there isn’t some serious improvement in 2013, there could be a ton of changes in the big D. Tony Romo is beginning the season as the quarterback of the Cowboys yet again and he could be one of those guys on the hot-seat in 2013. He finished with 4,903 passing yards to go along with 28 touchdowns and 19 interceptions a season ago. He needs to improve his all-around play and cut down interceptions if this team wants to get back to the postseason. DeMarco Murray will be a solid option at running back and he’s capable of putting up big numbers, like he did before his injury. Dez Bryant could also put up some monster numbers at wide out.

On the other side of the field, the New York Giants are led by Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning. It’s been a couple years since this team has been successful and coming off an underachieving 9-7 season and missing the postseason, it looks like Manning is determined to make a statement this season. He is coming off a season in which he passed for nearly 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns and could do just the same — or better — in 2013 with a relatively healthy Victor Cruz and Hakeen Nicks anchoring the wide out positions. Running back David Wilson could also be in for a breakout campaign in his first year as the starter.

Defensively, the Giants ranked in the top-15 in the NFL in yards allowed per game. The Cowboys are on the other side of things, ranking in the lower-10 defenses in the league in terms of points allowed per game, but gave up about 30 yards less of offense per game than the Giants. It will be interesting to see these evenly-matched squads face off.